Royal Greenwich Records 17.4% Fall in Crime Within The Borough

* Royal Greenwich Leader:
Cllr Denise Hyland

by our RBG Correspondent | Woolwich

The Royal Borough of Greenwich has welcomed new figures showing a 17.4 per cent drop in crime rates for the royal borough.



Figures for Greenwich also show a fall in household burglaries, with recorded incidents dropping by 35.7 per cent. However, incidents of violent crime with injury have increased by 5.7 per cent. While this is significantly below the London-wide increase of 20.2 per cent, tackling violent crime remains a top priority for both the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the local Metropolitan Police; it will be the main focus of the Safer Greenwich Partnership (SGP) -a cross-agency group specialising to tackle crime, anti-social behaviour and substance misuse.
 

The council also continues to support the Violent and Organised Crime Unit (VOCU) a police unit set up to target gang-related crime in the borough. It follows a successful year when the unit seized over £100,700 in cash and drugs with a street value of almost £50,000; officers made 214 arrests and 34 offensive weapons were taken off the streets.



Over the last two years, the council has invested £675,000 to support victims of domestic violence and encourage perpetrators to seek help. The funding supports the work of the domestic violence intervention team (DVIT), a police unit based at Plumstead police station, which provides an emergency response and follow-up support. Funding is also given to the Greenwich Domestic Violence and Abuse Service to provide a telephone helpline for victims.



The Royal Borough of Greenwich is also working closely with its partners to challenge some of the underlying factors behind violent crime especially among young people. The Council and Metropolitan Police met with local parents earlier this year to focus on how families can seek support and advice if they are worried about their son or daughter getting involved in violent crime.

* Commander of Royal Greenwich, Chief Superintendent Helen Millichap
 and Cllr Jackie Smith, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environment

Cllr Jackie Smith, the Royal Borough’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environment said: “The drop in crime shown in these recent figures is very encouraging. Residents will also be heartened to see a reduction in the number of residential burglaries being committed. The increase in violent crime however, remains a serious concern. Tackling it will remain the highest priority for the Safer Greenwich Partnership along with bolstering the successful VOCU and Greenwich Domestic Violence and Abuse Service.”

Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Helen Millichap said: “These figures showing a clear fall in crime over the last four years and, a very sharp fall in household burglaries in particular, are of course very welcome. However, we remain acutely aware of the challenges that still remain, especially for violent crime with injury. Tackling this with our partners in the Royal Borough of Greenwich is a key priority for us.”

The stats are based on targets for seven categories of crime set four years ago by the Mayor of London Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).

For details of the Royal Greenwich Domestic Violence and Abuse Service call:

 020 8317 8273 or visit:  www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk.

Parents can find a range of advice on keeping children and young people safe by visiting:

 www.greenwichsafeguardingchildren.org.uk.